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Dave's Daily Devo - May 30, 2017

“Dave and Zach, we need to drive over to the church. I’ve gathered some special ladies there and I want you both to share and pray with them.” (It was Thursday morning, the day after the completion of our Leadership Conference in his church.) When we arrived, eleven ladies were seated eating some bread and enjoying a Coke. (If Christians ever reached out all over the world the way Coke has we would have already fulfilled the Great Commission).

Sammy introduced us, “Dave and Zach, these ladies are here this morning because they’ve all lost their husband, the sole breadwinner for their family. I want you to give them a word of encouragement.” Zach shared and then it was my turn.

I recognized several of the ladies from shaking their hand and giving them their certificate for attending our Leadership Conference. Two of the younger widows held little ones on their knees and one was breast feeding her tiny baby.

If ever there was a circle of women who had good reason to worry, this was it. But instead they listened as I shared from the book of James about what God thinks is the real thing when it comes to religion. Jesus’ half-brother, who grew up with Him, gives us the answer. “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27

After telling us the story about the rich farmer who worked and planned and succeeded, but then selfishly decided to use all his prosperity feeding his own stomach and relaxing, and then died leaving it all behind, Jesus turned to His disciples and challenged them to trust God, not money.

“Because of this I say to you, don’t worry yourself over what you are going to eat, or what clothes you’re going to put on your body. Your soul is worth more than food and your body isn’t just the clothes you wear. Consider the ravens; they don’t sow or reap, they don’t have a storehouse or a barn, and God feeds them. You’re worth far more than birds. And which one of you by worrying can add an hour to his lifespan? Therefore, if you are not able to do such a trivial thing why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies; how they grow, they don’t labor or spin, yet I tell you, Solomon in all of his glory was not dressed up like one of these. But if God clothes the grass of the field that is alive today and cast into the oven tomorrow, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!

And you,don’t be seeking what you are going to eat and drink. Don’t worry. All these things the nations of the world seek; but your Father knows you need these things. Nevertheless, seek His Kingdom and these things will be added to you. Don’t fear, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom.” Luke 12: 22-32

Pastor Sammy concluded our time with the widows, “Ladies, I weep when you come and share about your desperate needs. Our church will do all we can to help you. My own father was killed in an accident when I was a young boy. My mother lived what you are living and we saw God meet our needs.”

LORD, several of these widows want to get professional instruction in braiding hair. It’s something they can do at home and provide for their children. You know they need “seed” money to get the training and get started. I ask you to provide this need. Please bless those who gave so that we could feed every day the more than 950 who came to our conferences. Many of these widows and their kids got good solid meals several days this week because of the generosity of our TE family.